Mix And Match

Coaches Have Different Styles, Same Goal

August 17, 2003|By JENNIFER L WILLIAMS Daily Press

NEWPORT NEWS — Think Norman Schwarzkopf and Tommy Franks.

Dennis Rodman and Tiger Woods.

Eminem and Bing Crosby.

Dan Antolik and David Legg, Christopher Newport's top two assistant coaches, couldn't have more different personalities. Legg, the defensive coordinator, can be spotted on the sideline, waving his arms and acting, well, out there. Antolik, the offensive coordinator, is a cross between a psychotherapist and a librarian, weighing every word and always thinking deep thoughts.

"They both can be intimidating to a player, to an extent, but on the other side of the coin you'll see situations where they'll take a kid in and make them feel very comfortable and very reassured and motivate them in a very positive way without being loud and verbal," CNU head coach Matt Kelchner said.

"I think it's a good mix because both of their personalities and the way they are. It's a really good mix for a staff to have it that way. It makes a good match because I'm different from both of them, too. If we were all three the same -- just hollering and screaming and going ballistic all the time -- we wouldn't be able to exist."

Antolik and Legg were Kelchner's first hires when the program started three years ago. He promoted each to assistant head coach during the offseason, and said each could run his side of the ball without Kelchner's input.

Both assistants see this season as the first with a solid foundation. Turnover between the first and second seasons was high, but CNU will attempt to defend its conference title with 31 players coming back who have started at least one game.

"Especially defensively, because we do have a returning nucleus for the first time," Legg said. "To me the biggest thing that's different now is that and the expectations. We're expected to win the conference championship and we should be; that's not a problem."

Another expectation is that players will have retained more of what they learned last season, allowing preseason practice to move at a faster pace. But coaching changes on both sides of the ball will require some adjusting, especially early.

Antolik won't have veteran area coach John Quillen to work with the running backs, and Legg won't have Justin Lustig, who left for Villanova.

Anthony Matthews and Richy Ingram, both of whom started in CNU's secondary last season, will be assistants on defense. Rookie coach Shannon Johnson, a former quarterback at Emory and Henry, will coach the running backs, and veteran high school coach Jon Troy will work with the tight ends.

"Personally, one of the things I'm worried about this year is coaching staff changes," Legg said.

The coaching staff has made a concerted effort to put its best players on defense, especially in the secondary. That trend will continue this season, even though the starting quarterback job is up in the air.

"I think we're maturing on offense," Antolik said. "We need to improve our passing game, our ability to throw and to catch the football. I think it will help us take the next step, offensively, to go against the really good football teams that are on our schedule and there's a bunch of them, both in conference and out of conference.

"I think that's real important. I think we improved last year, but we need to now all take the next step in regards to that."

The new steps will be directed by Antolik, a strait-laced western Pennsylvania native, and Legg, who grew up in Newport News and never met an ear he couldn't bend.

"We've got a nice match, I think," Kelchner said. "For me -- I don't know about them -- it's been a real good and easy working relationship. It's created a lot of debate. There's been a lot of interesting conversations, interesting thought processes on different things. That's what makes it fun."

Jennifer L. Williams can be reached at 247-4644 or by e-mail at jwilliams@dailypress.com

AT A GLANCE

* COACH: Matt Kelchner (11-9 in two seasons at CNU and overall).

* LAST YEAR: 6-5, 5-1 Dixie Conference (T-1st); lost to Washington and Jefferson (Pa.) 24-10 in first round of NCAA Division III playoffs.

* QUARTERBACKS

Two-year starter Eric Carlson did not return. Former backup Phillip Jones is a good candidate to start, but former Kecoughtan High and James Madison player Jovonn Quillen should push for the job.

* RUNNING BACKS

Returning big three Mario Marin, Thomas Thornton and Branden Jones represent the best group of backs in the conference. They generated almost all of the offense last season, and the unit will be even stronger with the addition of freshman George Jones from New Kent.

* RECEIVERS

Sophomore Nathan Davis, a starter who caught 11 passes last season, returns along with junior Brian Haygood as the probable starters. With starter Matt Lemn graduated, others will compete for playing time. Starter Jake Schindler and backup Justin Greenleaf return at tight end.